Beltracchi The Art of Forgery
For nearly 40 years, Wolfgang Beltracchi fooled the international art world and was responsible for the biggest art forgery scandal of the postwar era. An expert in art history, theory and painting techniques, he tracked down the gaps in the oeuvres of great artists - Max Ernst, Fernand Leger, Heinrich Campendonk, Andre Derain and Max Pechstein, above all - and filled them with his own works. He and his wife Helene would then introduce them to the art world as originals.
What makes these forgeries truly one-of-a-kind is that they are never mere copies of once-existing paintings, but products of Beltracchi's imagination, works "in the style of" famous early 20th-century artists. With his forgeries, he fooled renowned experts, curators and art dealers. The auctioneers Sotheby's and Christie's were hoodwinked, just like Hollywood star Steve Martin and other collectors throughout the world.
Winner of Best Documentary at the German Film Awards.
Running Time
103 mins
Year
2014
Kanopy ID
1844476
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Comments (3)
Why isn't everyone talking about this film!? Beltracchi rewrote art history so well that he even fooled the experts–and they are livid! This a true crime story with a likeable, talented antihero.
Ein ganz sympathischer Mann und daher geniessbarer Dokumentar. Wenn der Mensch kein Genie ist, bin ich kein Mensch. Außerdem sind seine Gemälde wirklich schön. Seine Fälschungen und die Werke von "ihm" selber. Any American watching this should question our prison system in contrast to the ...Read more
Ein ganz sympathischer Mann und daher geniessbarer Dokumentar. Wenn der Mensch kein Genie ist, bin ich kein Mensch. Außerdem sind seine Gemälde wirklich schön. Seine Fälschungen und die Werke von "ihm" selber. Any American watching this should question our prison system in contrast to the French and Europe. Should we change something about ours? i think so. Is Beltracchi a human who made conscious illegal choices, or less than an animal, deserving to be caged 24/7? Clearly the U.S. has got it wrong and needs to fix the system immediately. Vive le Beltracchi! ;)
Read lessThe Bonnie and Clyde of the Art World... Awesome documentary!